Bus trip to the city

Louise, Kevin and took the bus into the city today. For 15 rupees the bus goes from Gokulam into Mysore city. We planned to see the Palace.
br />



/>



Bus depot

Homemade soda. There are many street vendors near the bus depot.





Tattoo guy. There was a young boy getting a tattoo when we first walked by. I was too horrified to get my camera out. No needle change in between customers I sure.





We walked to the back gate and found out we couldn't get in that way.




A rickshaw driver offered a quick city tour to see the "Saturday Market" and then would drop us at the front gate of the Palace for 30 rupees.

He took us to a woodwork shop first. They use plastic for the white part of the inlay inlace of ivory.







Next was to an incense shop. At this point we knew he was hoping we would buy stuff and he would get a commission. The incense shop was crazy expensive so we didn't buy anything.




Next was a unexciting market.

Dried fish stand. The smell was unbelievable.




Here are some cute kids outside the market. I usually don't take pictures of children because I dont want to offend the mothers but nobody was looking.




After the unexciting market the driver said he would now take us to the Museum shop and then the Palace. I have already been to the Museum shop and I know they pay drivers commissions. We told him we would not go there and when he realized he would only be getting his offered price of 30 rupees and no commissions he got quiet and just brought us to the Palace. So I think the "Saturday Market" doesn't actually exist he just wanted to take us to shops for his own benefit.

The Palace was beautiful. 200 rupees for foreigners, 20 rupees for Indians.




Temple inside palace gates






Cameras aren't allowed inside the palace but cell phones are. People took pictures with their cell phones. After a few minutes I pulled out my camera and snapped a few, the whole time terrified that I would be caught by palace security and executed on the spot. But I live dangerously. LOL.













There were elephants and camels inside the palace walls for rides. Note the inflated foreigners price.









You can't wear shoes in the palace which meant walking into the camel and elephant enclosure barefoot so no joy ride for me :(

After the palace Kevin and I took a walk around the surrounding area and ended up in Gandhi Square.
























Name on a grain of rice!


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad